Statement of the problem: Research on the human face has seen a surge, especially with rapidly developing new concepts of dynaesthetics. Besides dentistry, medical specialties like surgery, forensics and ophthalmology have found renewed interest in studies on human face. In dentistry, specialists from the field of orthodontics, prosthodontics, orthognathic surgeons and aesthetic dentists have done considerable research on various landmarks of human face especially measurements between different landmarks. While researchers have focussed on different methods of measuring, none seemingly has focussed on the significance of stabilizing the subject on which measurements are made or the device with which measurements are made.
Purpose: To review the literature related to the methods used to measure facial parameters.
To design a new device that firmly stabilizes subject as well as measuring device.
Materials and methods: An innovative device was first designed from data obtained from measurements of average head sizes of various races. Thirty dentulous and thirty edentulous subjects were then selected on whom the reliability of the instrument was verified. For dentulous subjects three different observers measured predetermined facial parameter whereas for edentulous subjects, vertical dimensions were measured on the newly designed device called Subject stabilizing device. Vertical dimensions incorporated in the denture were approved in a two stage procedure.
Results: Distances between various different landmarks of the human face were measured without the subject having to move his/her head and without ever removing the measuring calliper from the device.
Conclusion: The device is reliable in measuring different clinical landmarks and can be particularly useful in research where measurements need to be standardized when large populations are studied.